Lucknow, February 4: The efforts of the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh towards wildlife conservation are yielding positive results. The recent winter census has recorded a total of 20,628 sarus cranes, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year.
The forest department conducts a census of the sarus cranes twice a year, in both summer and winter. This year’s winter count was carried out across 68 forest divisions in the state, with the Etawah division reporting the highest number of 3,304 cranes. Notably, ten forest divisions recorded over 500 cranes each.
Under the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, ongoing wildlife conservation campaigns have contributed to the year-on-year growth of the sarus population. In 2023, the count stood at 19,196, which increased to 19,994 in 2024, and now has reached 20,628 in the latest winter census.
Following Etawah, the districts of Mainpuri, Auraiya, Shahjahanpur, Gorakhpur, Kannauj, Kanpur Dehat, Hardoi, Siddharthnagar, and Sant Kabir Nagar reported 2,899, 1,283, 1,078, 950, 826, 777, 752, 736, and 701 cranes respectively.
Additionally, 29 forest divisions recorded crane populations between 100 and 500, while another 29 divisions reported fewer than 100 cranes.
Approximately 10,000 citizens participated in the winter census, enhancing community involvement in conservation efforts. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Anuradha Vemuri stated that prior to the census, the forest department surveyed habitats rich in sarus populations to identify key areas.
She emphasized that, as per the Chief Minister’s directives, the forest department remains committed to wildlife conservation, which is reflected in the increasing number of sarus cranes.